Adjustable axle-nut



(ModeL) J. H. STEEN.

ADJUSTABLE AXLE NUT.

Patented Dec. 22, 1885..

. ATTORNEY 2o justable nuts designed to be used on vehicle- UNITEDSTATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES H. STEEN, or CANTON, OHIO.

ADJUSTABLE AXLE-NUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333.030, dated December22, 1885.

Application filed June 6, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES H. STEEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Axle-Nuts;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings,making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, in which-- Figure 1 is an end view. Fig. 2 isa detached view of locking pin or bar and portion of nut. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line as m, Fig.3, showing the locking pin or bar in proper position. Fig. 5 is a sideview of thimble, showing a portion of said thimble in section.

The present invention has relation to adaxles; and its nature consistsin the different parts and combination of parts hereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the claim.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the end of an axle, which isformed in the ordinary manner, and is provided with the ordinaryscrew-threaded end, a.

The thimble B is substantially of the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, theinside of which is provided with a screw-thread, which is to correspondin size to the screw-threaded end a. The periphery of the thimble B isprovided with a screw-thread, which may, if desired, be. finer than thethread upon the inside. Upon the periphery of said thimble B are locatedthe semicircle grooves b. In the drawings four of said grooves areshown; but more or less may be used, if desired, said grooves being forthe purpose hereinafter described.

The not 0 is substantially of the form shown in the drawings, the insideof which is provided with a screw-thread corresponding in size andnumber with the screw-thread upon the periphery of the thimble B, and,as shown in Fig. 4, is provided with the semicircle groove e, whichcorresponds in size with the semicircle grooves b in the thimble B.

Serial No. 167,919. (ModeL) The opening in the nut G is deeper than thelength of the screw-threaded end a and the thimble B, and is so arrangedthat the nut O can be brought forward as the different parts wear away.

In use the thimbleB is first placed in the nut G, or on thescrew-threaded end a, as desired. If placed on the screw-threaded end a,it is brought up to the end of the axle A, as shown in Fig. 3, when thenut O is placed in the position shownin said Fig. 3, and turned so thatthe grooves 22 and 0 will be opposite, as shown in Fig. 4, when thelocking pin or bar Dis placed in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4,thus securely locking the thimble B and the nut 0 together, when all ofthe different parts of the nut proper are removed from the axle and thewheel placed in proper position on the axle and suitable washers placedon the nut, when it is again placed on the threaded portion a, as shownin Fig. 3.

To adjust the nut, the locking pin or bar D is removed, when the nut Cwill turn on the thimble B, thus bringing the nut closer to the end ofthe hub of the wheel, and take up the wear of the different parts.

It will be seen by my peculiar arrangement I am enabled to adjust to anydesired fineness, and at the same time may adjust to any length desiredwithin the limits of the nut C and thimble B, and should the end of thehub become much worn I am enabled to bring the inner face of the nut 0past the screw-threaded end a.

It will be understood that I place suitable washers between the face ofthe nut O and the hub E.

In the drawings a cap is shown covering the nut O and its differentparts.

It may be desirable to provide means for preventing the lockingpin fromworking out of the grooves in the thimble and cap. This I accomplish bycontracting the outer portion of the opening F, making it of smallersize than the locking-pin. It will of course be understood that in thiscase the thimble will have to be inserted in the cap, and thelocking-pin placed in position in the grooves before the nutis placedupon the screw-threaded end a of the axle. When it is desired to adjustthe nut, the thimble and cap are removed from the screw-threaded end ofthe axle, and a small pin is inserted in the contracted portion F of thecap, and the locking-pin pushed out. The cap is then adjusted on thethimble to the required position, the locking-pin inserted in the groovefrom the inner side, and the thimble carrying the cap screwed upon theaxle. A much better result is secured by the employment of the thimblethan if the cap worked directly on the screw-threaded end of the axle.In the latter case it would not be possible to screw the cap past theshoulder formed at the junction of the screw-threaded and plain portionsof the axle, so that wear of the hub could not be provided for; but bythe employment of the thimble upon the screwthreaded portion the cap cantravel past the screw-threaded shoulder, being only limited in thatdirection by its length and the extent of the wear of the hub.

To strengthen the nut O, I prefer to make its faces of the form shown inFig. 1.

Having now fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The axle-nut consisting of the nut 0, closed at one end andscrew-threaded interiorly, and provided with a groove, 0, the thirnbleB, open at both ends, provided with a groove, b, and screw-threadedinteriorly and exteriorly, and fitting in and inclosed by said nut, thelocking-pin D, fitting in said grooves b and c, and the contractedopening in the closed end of nut 0, leading to groove 0, theconstruction being such that when the nut is screwed upon the threadedend of an axle the outer end of pin D will abut against the shoulderthereof, and be retained in place thereby, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. STEEN. Witnesses:

E. G. LANE,

FRED W. BOND.

